About Us
The Well began to form in February 2011 when a small group of people gathered to dream together about a new community of faith rooted in the life-giving, love-centered way of Jesus.
We began gathering in Springfield, a neighborhood just north of downtown Jacksonville. Springfield seemed to be a good fit for us because this part of Jacksonville was experiencing its own renewal & was quickly becoming a dynamic intersection of people from differing racial, socioeconomic & spiritual backgrounds. It seemed to be a good fit for a group seeking to reimagine church together.
From the beginning, owning a building has been optional, not assumed. Our first year together was spent gathering weekly for potluck dinner at Carl’s Main Street Diner. Since then, we have gathered in coffee houses, breweries, parks, laundromats, homes & other community spaces to learn, listen, create sacred space & learn to love our neighbors as we are learning to love ourselves.
We are a collection of believers, non-believers, skeptics, saints, gay, straight, young, old, black, white, brown, churched & church-averse folks. We ask questions, have difficult conversations, share stories, needs & resources, eat together often & try our best to practice the way of Jesus together.
Here are some stories from people who have spent time with us.
OUR BEGINNINGS
We come together as a community of equals,
as a refuge for the marginalized and the misfits,
as a human family longing to be made whole,
as a spiritual community journeying together
into Jesus’s way of freedom, love,
joy, mercy, justice and peace.
Connection: We nurture connection with God, ourselves, and one another through spiritual practices, scripture exploration, spending time in nature, throwing parties, and hosting meaningful conversations.
Belonging: We make space for people from a variety of walks of life to come together, to share their stories, hopes, questions and struggles, and to fully participate in our life together.
Becoming: As life-long learners, we value curiosity and openness over certainty. We are shaped by diverse voices and perspectives and are committed to confronting our biases and prejudices.
Creativity: We are inspired to embrace change with courage, trust and imagination. We experiment with many ways of gathering and foster an atmosphere of openness, simplicity and freedom.
Engagement: We see faith as a practice for the common good, not a commodity to be consumed. The spiritual journey is meant to make a difference in how we live, love ourselves, treat our neighbors, and care for the earth.
You can learn more about some of the ways we practice these values here.
OUR MISSION & CORE VALUES
Rev. Susan Rogers (pronouns she/her) is our pastor. She grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Terry Parker High School and the University of Florida. After working as an occupational therapist for 9 years, she sensed a call into vocational ministry and moved to Atlanta to attend seminary. Starting a church was never on her radar (“If you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans,” writes Anne Lamott).
She is a graduate of McAfee School of Theology (2008) and served at Peachtree Baptist Church in Atlanta before returning to Jax in 2010 to start The Well through a generous partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida.
She is passionate about creating authentic spiritual community, making space for those who’ve been told they don’t belong & re-imagining new ways of being church. She is married, has two adult daughters, and way too many books.
OUR PASTOR
MAKING IT HAPPEN TOGETHER
We are shaped by those who participate with us, which means we are constantly changing shape as people come and go! Some who currently facilitate and coordinate groups, serve in various roles, or as liaisons to community partners include —
Andrew Robinson Elementary Partnership: Mary Elizabeth Ballentine (maryelizabethgd@gmail.com)
Book Club: Susan Schremp (sschremp@gmail.com)
Church in the Wild: Victoria Minteer (vic197038@hotmail.com)
Clearness Circle: Michelle Palmieri (michelle.palmieri80@gmail.com)
Finance Coordinator: Ben Wooley (c.b.wooley3@gmail.com)
LEAD Team: Patti Peeples, Susan Rogers, Cheryl Warner, Michelle Palmieri, Laurel Wooley, Ben Wooley
Neighborhood Commons: Susan Rogers (susan@thewellatspringfield.org)
Story & Soul (Writing Group): Mae Beth Ragland (maebethragland@gmail.com)
Sunday Gathering Volunteer Coordinator: Mary Elizabeth Ballentine (maryelizabethgd@gmail.com)
Treasurer: Bob Beyard (wileyb@bellsouth.net)
